# data[].attributes.body
Rainbow Word: Write a word for the child. Have the child write the same word using different colored utensils (e.g., marker, colored pencil, crayon) and using the key below to mark spelling patterns.  Rainbow Words example

Red- Consonant

Blue- Vowel

Orange- Digraph: two letters that make one sound (e.g., sh, ch, th, wh, ph, ck, ng)

Green- Bossy or Silent e: an e at the end of a word that is silent and makes the vowel say its name (e.g., kite, cake, broke)

Purple- Vowel Teams (e.g., ee, ei, ie, ea, ie, ou, oi, oy, ai, ay, oa, ow, ue)

Brown- R Controlled Vowels (e.g., ir, ur, er, or, ar)

# data[].attributes.body
Sound "I Spy" with Blending: Play "I Spy" by saying each sound in a word and have the child blend the sounds together and name what you spy (e.g., I spy a /b/ /e/ /n/ / ch/).

# data[].attributes.body
Echo Reading: Model expression while reading to the child. Then, have the child read the same sentence or phrase fluently.

# data[].attributes.body
Move the Letters: This game allows children to manipulate letters and correctly spell a word when given a picture of an item with a vowel team.

Multisyllabic Words: This game allows children to match open and closed syllables to build a new word with game cards.  This similar game allows children to match open and closed syllables as well.  Syllable Types (optional)

# data[].attributes.body
Families can ask what Needs to Change?: Ask the child what sound needs to change to change one word to another (e.g., What sound needs to change to make the word "cat" into "hat"?). Practice changing sounds in the beginning, middle, and end of words.

Word Force:  This interactive game is great for children with families who may have a communication, cultural, or family/housing dynamic. It engages children with fun, multi-level literacy development activities

# data[].attributes.body
Models of Fluent Reading: This resource provides access to many illustrated read alouds narrated by famous individuals. These stories provide children with models of fluent reading.

Echo Reading: This resource provides books to practice echo reading with your child to build fluency. Each book has a speaker symbol at the bottom of the page. Push the speaker for the child to hear the page read aloud. Then, have the child echo the reading to practice reading with expression as if they were talking to someone.

# data[].attributes.body
Examples and Non-Examples: Give non-examples of new vocabulary words to teach what the word does not mean

# data[].attributes.body
Watch and Apply: Watch a movie or television show with the child. While watching, take note of words used that the child may not know or use often. Add these words into meaningful conversations with the child (e.g., When the word pasteurized is used in an episode, point out the pasteurized milk and juice in the refrigerator).

Word Scramble: This game uses a picture and letter clues to determine the word.

# data[].attributes.body
Comprehension Ball: Write comprehension elements (e.g., central message, lesson, characters, problem, solution) on a ball. Toss the ball to the child.  The child describes the story element their right pointer finger (or other designated hand/finger) touches based on a book recently read.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In accordance with our commitment to deliver reading programs based on research-based instructional strategies, Read Naturally's programs develop and support the five (5) components of reading identified by the National Reading Panel -phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Phonemic Awareness

Phonemes, the smallest units making up spoken language, combine to form syllables and words. Phonemic awareness refers to the student's ability to focus on and manipulate these phonemes in spoken syllables and words. According to the National Reading Panel, teaching phonemic awareness to children significantly improves their reading more than instruction that lacks any attention to phonemic awareness.
Learn more about phonemic awareness

Phonics

Phonics is the relationship between the letters (or letter combinations) in written language and the individual sounds in spoken language. Phonics instruction teaches students how to use these relationships to read and spell words. The National Reading Panel indicated that systematic phonics instruction enhances children's success in learning to read, and it is significantly more effective than instruction that teaches little or no phonics.
Learn more about phonics

Fluency

Fluent readers are able to read orally with appropriate speed, accuracy, and proper expression. Fluency is the ability to read as well as we speak and to make sense of the text without having to stop and decode each word. The National Reading Panel's research findings concluded that guided oral reading and repeated oral reading had a significant and positive impact on word recognition, reading fluency, and comprehension in students of all ages.
Learn more about fluency

Vocabulary

Vocabulary development is closely connected to comprehension. The larger the reader's vocabulary (either oral or print), the easier it is to make sense of the text. According to the National Reading Panel, vocabulary can be learned incidentally through storybook reading or listening to others, and vocabulary should be taught both directly and indirectly. Students should be actively engaged in instruction that includes learning words before reading, repetition and multiple exposures, learning in rich contexts, incidental learning, and use of computer technology.
Learn more about vocabulary

Comprehension

Comprehension is the complex cognitive process readers use to understand what they have read. Vocabulary development and instruction play a critical role in comprehension. The National Reading Panel determined that young readers develop text comprehension through a variety of techniques, including answering questions (quizzes) and summarization (retelling the story).
Learn more about comprehension

Note: Progress in reading does not necessarily result in progress in spelling. Spelling instruction is needed to develop students' spelling skills.
Learn more about spelling

For more information

Learn more about the National Reading Panel
Intervention programs that address these reading components

Bibliography

Mehta, P. D., Foorman, B. R., Branum-Martin, L., & Taylor, W. P. (2005). Literacy as a unidimensional construct: Validation, sources of influence and implications in a longitudinal study in grades 1-4. Scientific Studies of Reading, 9(2), pp. 85-116.

National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction. Washington, DC: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Five (5) Components of Reading :: Read Naturally, Inc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our programs develop the National Reading Panel 's five (5) components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Teaching, Reading, and Learning: The Reading League Podcast

Teaching, Reading, and Learning: The Reading League Podcast elevates important contributions to the educational community, with the goal of inspiring teachers, informing practice, and celebrating people in the community who have influenced teaching and literacy to the betterment of children. The podcast features people whose life stories are compelling and rich in ways that are instructive to us all. The podcast will focus on literacy as we know it (reading and writing) but will also connect to other "literacies" that impact children's learning; for example, emotional, physical, and social literacies as they apply to teachers and children.
Teaching, Reading, and Learning: The Reading League Podcast is taking a short break following our June 2022 episode.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teaching, Reading & Learning: The Podcast

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teaching, Reading & Learning: The Podcast elevates important contributions to the educational community, with the goal of inspiring teachers, informing practice, and celebrating people in the community who have influenced teaching and literacy to the betterment of children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There are lots of ways that you can help your children learn to read! From the time that they are babies to the time that they are in high school, there are many little steps you can take along the way - rhyming and singing songs, reading out loud, sounding out letters, going to the library, and reading books together in your home language. Helping your children learn to read might also mean finding support if they are having difficulty, which can affect their future success. This section is filled with tips for what you can do at home, fun activities, suggestions for choosing books to share together, and ideas on how you can prepare your child for a lifetime and love of reading.

Finding Great Books
For recommendations of books for children and young adults, see our Books & Authors section.

What You'll Find in This Section

Lots of kids love non-fiction books because they are about the world they know and see around them. Books about topics like animals, sports, other countries, volcanoes, bugs, dinosaurs, and famous people may be just the thing to get your child excited about reading! Here are some tips about reading and choosing non-fiction books.

Reading with your child is one of the best ways to help him or her become a better reader. But you may have some questions - which books should we choose? Which language should I use? Is reading an e-book different? These tips offer ideas and advice to help make the most of your reading time! For a complete list of our reading tips for parents, see Parent Reading Tips by Topic.

Written especially for parents, Growing Readers (formerly Ed Extras) provides tips for raising strong readers and writers. Schools and PTAs can add these preformatted briefs to their parent newsletters. Growing Readers is also a great resource for libraries and community literacy organizations. The one- or two-page articles are available as a PDF in both English and Spanish.

Lots of kids love non-fiction books because they are about the world they know and see around them. Books about topics like animals, sports, other countries, volcanoes, bugs, dinosaurs, and famous people may be just the thing to get your child excited about reading! Here are some tips about reading and choosing non-fiction books.

Reading with your child is one of the best ways to help him or her become a better reader. But you may have some questions - which books should we choose? Which language should I use? Is reading an e-book different? These tips offer ideas and advice to help make the most of your reading time! For a complete list of our reading tips for parents, see Parent Reading Tips by Topic.

Written especially for parents, Growing Readers (formerly Ed Extras) provides tips for raising strong readers and writers. Schools and PTAs can add these preformatted briefs to their parent newsletters. Growing Readers is also a great resource for libraries and community literacy organizations. The one- or two-page articles are available as a PDF in both English and Spanish.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are lots of ways that you can help your children learn to read! From the time that they are babies to the time that they are in high school, there are many little steps you can take along the way - rhyming and singing songs, reading out loud, sounding out letters, going to the library, and reading books together in your home language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to content

Welcome | Join the GTT Family

Grab exclusive offers and freebies as part of the GTT family.

Instant Downloads

Digital downloads at your finger tips. Instantly personalise, edit or print.

5 Star Reviews

Scroll individual resource reviews and obtain first hand feedback.

Tag GTT on IG

Share your creations in action - we love sharing you and all you do!

Secure payment

Enjoy a range of payment methods. Check out with variety and ease.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Move student learning forward with a range of quality literacy resources. Designed for whole-class lessons, differentiated literacy groups and extension work.

# data[].attributes.body
Storyline Online: This resource provides access to many illustrated read alouds narrated by famous individuals.  Use the ABCs of Reading (ask questions, build vocabulary, and connect to the child's world) as you listen to the story with your child.

Read and Answer Questions: This resource provides access to informational text and stories with comprehension questions.